(a) the challenges faced by the Government in the effective implementation of Digital India initiative and the measures taken by the Government to tide over the said challenges;
(b) the number of internet subscribers in the country separately in rural and hilly areas, State/UT-wise; and
(c) the estimated fund required and allocated for the said purpose, State/ UT-wise?
THE MINISTER OF STATE (IC) OF THE MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS &
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
(SHRI MANOJ SINHA)
(a) The implementation of the Digital India programme is being monitored by a Monitoring Committee on Digital India headed by the Hon’ble Prime Minister, a Digital India Advisory Group chaired by the Hon’ble Minister of Electronics and Information Technology and an Apex Committee on Digital India chaired by the Cabinet Secretary. The issues and challenges, like funding, coordination and permission etc., coming in the way of effective implementation of the Digital India programme are being addressed through the above mentioned monitoring mechanism;
(b) Information in respect of the internet subscribers in the country is maintained License Service Area (LSA) wise.LSA wise details of the internet subscribers in the country, as on 31st March, 2018, are placed at Annexure; and
(c) The Digital India programme covers multiple projects of various Central Ministries/Departments and States/Union Territories (UTs). Funds under Digital India Programme are not allocated State/Union Territory (UT)-wise. The total fund allocated to the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) under Digital India Programme for the Financial Year 2018-19 is Rs. 3,073 crore. Under BharatNet, which is a project to connect approx 2.5 lakh Gram Panchayats (GPs) by Broadband, has an approval of Rs. 42,068 crore by the Cabinet in July, 2017.